If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Riding in the Car

What do you use when traveling with your Cavalier in the car? When I go pick Ellie up Im bringing her regular plastic crate as thats what the breeder said I could use so thats fine but in the future, especially if its just me and Ellie and not my husband, I wanted something a little less bulky and easy to move with to put her in the car. I was thinking of a soft carrier that I could carry but Im finding it hard to find one I like and one that can accommodate Ellie without being too big for me. Right now Ellie is just about 7 months old and she weighs 12 lbs My breeder said she probably will gain another lb or 2 before she is done growing and most carriers I looked at have their weight around 12lbs as a medium but I worry if she gains any more weight she wont be able to fit that and I should get a large but since Im kinda tiny myself I dont want something thats cumbersome and huge and I wont be able to manage on my own. Any suggestions? And also at 12lbs is that normal for a doggie Ellie's age? Is she big, small, average? Im not sure as I have no experience with this really. Thanks so much as always!

I use a soft sided crate with a metal frame. It has a shoulder strap and handles. It has a zippered front and a zippered top. Believe it or not I got it a Walmart. The weight capacity is for dogs up to 20 llbs. I think it was around $40.00. It also has loops for the seat belt. Lily is almost 6 mos annd weighs about 13.6 lbs. She has just enough room to lay down, so this is only good for short trips. For longer trips we use her hardsided crate.

Sharon,
Mom to Bleinham Cavaliers Lily, 5 years old, and Alfie, 8 year old puppy mill rescue.
At the Bridge, Chloe, Lhasa Apso.

An RAC car harness. It's great. All I have to do is put the harness on him and then put the seatbelt through the loop and attach it and off we go! He just sits there quietly looking out of the window now!

It's a 2 in 1, so when we go for a walk down the park, all I have to do is attach the lead to the harness. It can be used for general walking.

He's 21 weeks and I bought him the medium (on the smallest setting). Looks a bit lost in it but he'll grow into it!

For long trips & if we need to take a crate for sleeping overnight we put Sonny in a large plastic crate with wire windows in it. It is very large & takes up most of the back seat of the car, and it wedges in very tightly behind the front seats so it can not move about.

For short trips we use a car harness similar to the one Mishmosh displayed in the url.

My girls vote for the Lookout seat as well. I have the larger one so that all three can "pile" in. I think there are at least 3 versions so you should be able to find one that works for you. I added sherpa lined harnesses to use in combination with the seatbelt snaps that come with the seat. What a difference it makes when every one can see out.
JaneB

Ours sit in dog beds with a Puppia harness with a strap that attaches to the seat belt--you can get at any petstore. I would also recommend them to be in the back seat only as an airbag can surely kill an animal in the front seat.